The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the officials of the Afghan embassy in Islamabad are in talks with Pakistani officials over the release of around 300 Afghans detained by Pakistani police for not having legal documents.
MoFA’s deputy spokesman, Hafiz Zia Ahmad Takal, said in a video that some of the detainees have been freed due to efforts of the Afghan embassy but the rest of them will be released after paying the fines.
“Some of them have been freed today and the decision to release others will be taken in the future. I must say that there are some individuals who are taking advantage of this issue and collect money under the title of helping these detainees,” he said.
The Pakistani police have arrested around 300 Afghans including women and children and women.
Some Afghan refugees in Karachi, Pakistan expressed frustration over their situation, saying that many members of their families have been held by the Pakistani police for over several months.
They said that they have been fined by the court for not having legal documents but are now unable to pay their fines.
“My mother and cousins are among them. It has been two months that they have been detained,” said an Afghan refugee in Pakistan.
“My four daughters and wife are among them. I have been dealing with this case for the past two months,” said an Afghan refugee in Pakistan.
The reports of the detention of around 300 Afghans by Pakistani police were published in early August.
“Children and women are among them as well as some men… the ambassador has yet to follow up (with) this, neither the consulate. We don’t have enough money to hire a lawyer. I came to Karachi and hired a lawyer for them,” said Haji Nazar Khogianai, a civil rights activist in Pakistan.
Pakistan’s human rights defenders also voiced concerns over the treatment of Pakistani government towards the Afghan refugees.
Based on some reports, around 3 million Afghan refugees are living in Pakistan.
